Method and apparatus for replacing a pair of rails

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for continuously replacing rails is provided in which the old rails are raised by guides on an advancing vehicle passed along the vehicle and laid in the bed within the railway gauge. Simultaneously new rails previously placed within the gauge are guided into position.

[ METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REPLACING A PAIR OF RAILS [76] Inventor: Helmut Dyballa, 4713 Bockum-Hovel, Goorweg, Germany [22] Filed: Nov. 19, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 200,390

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data,

[111 3,754,505 [451' Aug. 28, 1973 3,120,819 2/1964 Gammie 104/5 3,199,462 8/1965 Hooker..... 104/5 3,330,219 7/1967 Plasser e! 104/2 Primary Examiner-Gerald M. Forlenza Assistqnt E xaminerRichard A. Bertsch Attorney William E. Anderson, James J. H amill et a1.

[5 7] ABSTRACT vNov. 23, 1970 Germany P 20 57 487.2

A- method and apparatus for continuously replacing :J.S.(l. il is p i in the old rails are raised g n an advancing vehicle passed along the vehi l e o arc cle andlaid in the bed the railway g g s v taneously new rails previously placed within the gauge [56] References Cited are guided into position.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,286,648 11/1966 Brosnan 104/2 10 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures .1 4 ,f =r-o=3' W 1 4 A1 1 V1 7" '65 Tx- PATENIEUAUBZMH SHEET u [IF 4 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REPLACING A PAIR OF RAILS The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for continuously replacing an old pair of rails by a new pair of rails on a tie bed or foundation. l-leretofore such methods and apparatus have required a plurality of vehicles or multi-axle vehicle trains with which the new rails are positioned laterally outward of the railway track and then moved inwardly to the desired position after the old rails have been removed. Alternatively the old. rails are first removed and the new-rails are then supplied from. vehicles and positioned on the bed or foundation.

Such known methods and apparatus havemany disadvantages. A large amount of manual labor is involved in manipulating the old and new rails, a plurality of operations are required and either a pluralityof vehicles. or multiple axlevehicles are required; The accuracy with which the new rails are positioned isalso deficient;

using previously known apparatus.

Accordingly important objects of the present invention are to provide a method and apparatus for replacing rails which are simple in operation, which minimize manual labor and result in considerable savingsin expenses, which operate continuously, which remove old rails and position new rails simultaneously and; which accurately position new. rails, in the proper railway gauge.

' Other objects andv advantages. will become apparent,

from the following description and the accompanying; drawings in which:

8 s de. QWOf apparatus showing various features of the invention;

FlG. 2-is a detailed side view showinga portion of the; apparatus shown in FIG. I;

FIG. 3. is a detailed side view of aportion of the apparatus frame shown in FIG. 2;

- FIG. 4 is a fragmentary. front view-ot'the apparatus shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 isa detailed side viewof thev boom of .theappa-.

are moved ,-palst both sides of the. vehicle frarneand again placed onto theties withinv the confines of the: railway track; at therear end of the vehicle. At the same time, the new pair of rails lying,betwccnrtheoldrails is.

taken up by means of guiding elements mountedon the vehicleand is placed inthe normal gaugeof railway in place of the removedold; pair of. rails. lnoperation the old and new rails cross each. other. spatially; om both; sides of thevehicle.

In operation the old rails areraised, and thenew rails.

located in readinessfor, placement, areinstalled in. the position made free, bysimply moving themapart to the correct gauge of railway. In, the same arcaon the vehicle where the new-railsare moved. outwardly from their location within-the trackto the correctgaugeof railway, the raised old rails are moved inwardly so that they may be positioned within the confines of the gauge of railway at the rear end of the vehicle. Thus, the old, raised rails intersect the path of curvation of the new rails within the extent of the vehicle. Accordingly, the invention realizes in the smallest possible space and with the most simple means a mode of operation which facilitates the continuous repalcement of pairs of rails in a progressive and economical manner.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, apparatus embodying various features of the invention includes a crane vehicle or mobile crane generally indicated at I mounted on a vehicle frame 10. The crane vehicle has a boom 2 at its front end and tows a trailer 6 connected to the frame 10 through rigid coupling members. The crane vehicle receives old or worn out rails 4 at its leading end and then deposits these rails via the trailer 6. At the same time the crane vehicle 1 picks up new rails 5 by. means of the boom 2, also at its leading end, which rails are then placed into their final position either underneath the crane vehicle 1 or slightly behind the vehicle;

The running gear of the crane vehicle 1 is wider than the railway gauge and is mounted on tires 3 laterally outward of the rails which tires may be of rubber. The tires are thus adapted to move on the tie ends outsid of. the in place positions of the rails.

In the front. region of the vehicle frame 10 of the. crane vehicle 1, there is disposed a rail supporting frame 11. This frame includestwo separate supporting. arms 12 which are interconnected through a. traverse or crosstie rod 13. Thetraverse rod 13 extendsbeyond the supporting arms l2'and carries a front roller 14 at each end.

The vehicle frame 10 also has attached thereto rear supporting rollers 15. Initially in operation the old rails 4 to be removed are disengaged from their clamping platesand are placed with their ends on the front rollmu. Such placement can be suitably efi'ected by the boom 2 by meansof suitable gripping devices. When the crane vehicle 1 advances, the old rails 4 which'are presentin infinite length, are pushed over the front roll-f ers l4 and are moved laterally along and past the vehicle framev 10 onto the rear supporting rollers 15 where'- from the rails may then be laid down.

The crane vehicle 1 has joined thereto a so-called trailer 6; (FIGS. 6 and 7). The trailer 6 has a running gear 16 comprising a pair of wheels each of which move on the newly placed railway track 5. Above'the running gear 16, there is provided a beam 17 interconnectingthe pairs of wheels and havingslidably secured thereto a pair of rollers 18. The old rails 4 passing off therear supporting rollers 15 ofthe vehicle frame 10 are guided over the'rollers l8'of the trailer 6.] As illustrated the rollers l8are positioned closer to one an other than the desired, railway gauge so that the old.

- rails 4. arelaid down between the rails of the track} directly load the old railsonto a wagonrunning behind however, if the rollers 18 are positioned with greater spacing therebetween. on the beam 17, then the old rails" are-laid down outwardly of the rail assembly on the tie heads of the track installation. lt is possible to or towed behind. the crane vehicle, in which case, however, the infinite or continuous rails must be severed at.

spaced locations.

While the old rails 4 are pushed over the front sup porting rollers 14, the rear supporting rollers 15*and the rollers 18 of the trailer as the crane vehicle 1 advances, the new rails are installed at the same time, which new rails have previously been laid down between the in place position of the old rails 4.

For the installation of the new rails 5, the crane vehicle 1 is provided with front rail supporting tongs 19 mounted on the crane boom 2. These tongs are provided in pairs. By means of a tie rod (not shown) between them the tongs are appropriately spaced from each other to engage the new rails previously positioned between the old rails. Both rail supporting tongs 19 are connected to the crane boom 2 by means of an open-link chain 21.

A similar pair of rail supporting tongs 20 are also pro vided beneath the vehicle frame 10, which tongs in the instant case are termed the rear rail supporting tongs and which are likewise suspended from an open-link chain 21. The rear rail supporting tongs are similarly spaced from one another by a tie rod (not shown) so as to guide the new rails outwardly to the proper gauge. Each of the rail supporting tongs 19 and 20 includes a pair of lugs or brackets 23 which have small rollers 24 attached to their ends.

The new rails 5 to be placed are received by the rail supporting tongs 19 and 20. To this end, the lugs of each of the tongs are manually'spread apart, and the rail supporting tongs l9 and 20 are lowered over the rails until the lugs 23 are at the level of the railway track. Thereafter, the lugs are urged against each other so that they are positioned adjacent the railway track and the rollers 24 abut the lower faces of the rail heads. When the crane vehicle 1 advances, the rollers 24 of the rail supporting tongs l9 and 20 now roll along the lower faces of the rail heads. The correct spacing between the rails is maintained by the provision of the tie rods 20 which guarantee both at the front and at the rear rail supporting tongs l9 and 22, respectively, that the rails are positioned in their proper position for subsequent bolting to the ties.

The new rails 5 are raised by the rail supporting tongs l9 and 20, respectively, to such extent that the Thammer bolts on the ties may be left in position without becoming damaged or impeding the diverging movement of the new rails 5. in this connection, the front rail supporting tongs 19 have the special function of raising the new rails 5 in front of the crane vehicle 1 to a level above the Thammer bolts, and the rear rail supporting tongs 20 now guide the rails into the correct gauge of track for the subsequent bolting to the ties. In this operation, the new rails contact the track bed or foundation at the most at a distance of 3 or 4 meters rearward of the crane vehicle 1.

Thus the illustrated apparatus includes a rubber tired vehicle bridging or spanning the railway track and being equipped at its front end and in the region of the vehicle frame as well as at its rear end with roller and guiding elements for raising the old rails, passing them along both sides of the vehicle and bringing them together to smaller gauge of railway. The illustrated vehicle is also provided with further roller and guiding elements underneath the vehicle frame for guiding the new rails from their location within the gauge of railway into the position of the old rails. The illustrated rubber tired vehicle is adapted to move with its wheel along either side of the railway track so that raising of the old rails and guiding of the new rails into the position of the old rails is not interfered with.

More particularly the illustrated vehicle is a crane vehicle or mobile crane which is equipped with a rail supporting frame including a pair of supporting arms at the front end. The arms include front guiding rollers for the old rails to be raised. Also as illustrated, at least one guiding or supporting roller is provided in the area of the rear end of the vehicle frame for each of the two old rails to be laid down in the inboard direction.

Further, as illustrated the roller and guiding elements for guiding the new rails are formed as rail supporting tongs interconnected by means of a tie rod and pro vided with a pair of lugs adapted to be spread apart and having their ends provided with rollers by means of which they are adapted to engage underneath the rail heads in the manner of pliers or tongs. This construction renders possible in advantageous manner to grip and precisely guide the new rails.

The front rail supporting tongs as illustrated are mounted on the boom of the crane vehicle by means of a suspending device, and the rear roller supporting tongs are mounted in the region of the rear portion of the crane vehicle, also by means of .a suspending device. The suspending device may be constituted simply by an open-link chain.

It will be noted that the trailer is coupled with the vehicle and the running gear of the trailer consists of two pairs of wheels interconnected by a beam and rests on the new rails. This trailer makes possible a readjustment of the new rails which have already been placed in the proper gauge of railway; furthermore, this trailer may serve to guide the old rails to be laid down into the area between the new rails. To this end, the rollers on the trailer may be variably spaced for guiding and laying down the old rails.

The vehicle may be further provided with special axles and rimmed or spur wheels so that it is adapted to move on the railway track.

The method of the invention facilitates the replacement of old rails by new rails in one single operation and without any additional manipulation by workers. The old rails to be removed are passed over the rollers in infinite length and laid down into the railway track, or optionally onto the tie beads, by means of the rollers of the trailer.

While the old rails are raised and the new rails have not yet been placed, the wooden separators or washers may be easily replaced. Both rails to be removed are guided over the rollers which are positioned above the vehicles axles. At the same time, the two new rails are raised by means of the rail supporting tongs and moved from their location in the middle of the railway track into the position of the old rails, whereby exact alignment is provided by the tie rods.

The apparatus according to the invention is of surprisingly simple construction as the expert will recognize, because the new rails are placed into their final position in most simple manner, and the old rails are removed simply by causing portions of the apparatus to advance underneath them.

Furthermore, it is of particular advantage that the boom of the crane vehicle is adapted to fulfill three functions:

1. New rails which are present in substantial lengths, may be drawn by the boom of the crane vehicle so as to have exactly the proper spacing precisely at the rail butt joint to be welded. During such drawing operation, the rails may be drawn in such way that the subsequent welding operation need not be performed on a tie. To this end, the already placed rail is cut to the proper length, and the new rail is drawn into the desired positron.

2. The boom renders possible a lifting ofthe old rails at the beginning of the working procedure in order to introduce them under the crane vehicle or mobile crane.

3. The new rails are continuously raised by the boom during the advancing movement of the crane vehicle.

It is of particular advantage that jointed rails can also be handled because the passages for the old rails can be selected to be of correspondingly great dimension. It is also advantageous that if the new rails do not terminate within the space between the ties, the next new rail as described above can be drawn in such manner that it can be weldedto the end of the preceding rail section within the space between ties. During the placement, the tie ends are initially positioned one above the other, and the trailer moves onto the uppermost, last new rail via an overrunning shoe.

Various features of the invention are set forth in the accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A method for continuously exchanging an old pair of rails with a new continuous pair of ribbon rails on a tie bed by means of a rubber-tired vehicle, said method comprising the steps of: rolling said rubber-tired vehicle along said bed in a forward direction with the wheels thereof disposed outwardly of said old rails and spanning both said new rails and said old rails, simultaneously lifting said old rails and said new rails at the front end of said vehicle from said tie bed, spreading said new rails apart while said old rails remain raised by said vehicle as said rubber-tired vehicle continues to travel with said old and new rails passing beneath said vehicle, lowering said new rails into the positions occupied by said old rails, spreading apart the old rails, and rearwardly of said vehicle lowering said old rails to positions outwardly of their previously occupied positions.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 in which said vehicle includes a crane having a boom, said method comprising the further step of: initially lifting and threading said old and new rails initially by said boom through said vehicle.

3. An apparatus for continuously replacing an old pair of rails with a new pair of continuous ribbon rails on a tie bed, said apparatus comprising a vehicle having a frame, rubber tires attached to and supporting said frame for rolling along said bed, said frame and said wheel having a predetermined span greater than the width between said old rails to allow said vehicle to roll along said tie bed at locations outwardly of said old rail locations, means on the front end of said vehicle for raising and supporting the old rails from the bed for traveling through said vehicle, means at the front end of said vehicle for raising and supporting said new rails simultaneously with the raising of said new rails, means on said vehicle for spreading apart said new rails to the gauge of said old rails as said vehicle rolls along said bed and said new rails travel through said vehicle, and means for shifting said old rails laterally and for lowering the same to said tie bed at locations adjacent said new rails.

4. An apparatus in accordance with claim 3 in which said means for raising said new rails includes a boom extending forwardly from the front end of said vehicle and in which said means for raising and supporting said old rails comprises a pair of support arms inclined downwardly in the direction of travel at the front end of said vehicle, rod means extending transversely between said downwardly inclined arms, and roller means on said rod means for rolling beneath said old rails.

5. An apparatus in accordance with claim 4 in which said means for raising and supporting said new rails comprises rail supporting tongs having a pair of lugs adapted to be spread apart, and rollers carried by said lugs to engage underneath the heads of the rails.

6. An apparatus in accordance with claim 5 in which said means for lifting said new rails further comprises a suspending device extending between said boom and said tongs, said vehicle further comprising the pair of rearward tongs for supporting and guiding the new rails.

7. An apparatus in accordance with claim 4 in which said means for raising and supporting said old rails holds the same above the raised new rails, and is higher on said frame than said means for raising and supporting said new rails. v

8. An apparatus in accordance withclaim 3 in which said means on said vehicle for raising and supporting said old rails further comprises supporting rollers positioned adjacent the rearward end of said vehicle for supporting each of the old rails passing through said vehicle.

9. An apparatus in accordance with claim 3 in which said means for shifting said old rails laterally comprises a trailer connected to said rubber-tired vehicle and pulled thereby.

10. An apparatus in accordance with claim 9 in which said means to shift said old rails laterally comprises roller means on said trailer for spreading said old rails to guide them and lay said old rails down outwardly of said position previously occupied by said old rails. 

1. A method for continuously exchanging an old pair of rails with a new continuous pair of ribbon rails on a tie bed by means of a rubber-tired vehicle, said method comprising the steps of: rolling said rubber-tired vehicle along said bed in a forward direction with the wheels thereof disposed outwardly of said old rails and spanning both said new railS and said old rails, simultaneously lifting said old rails and said new rails at the front end of said vehicle from said tie bed, spreading said new rails apart while said old rails remain raised by said vehicle as said rubber-tired vehicle continues to travel with said old and new rails passing beneath said vehicle, lowering said new rails into the positions occupied by said old rails, spreading apart the old rails, and rearwardly of said vehicle lowering said old rails to positions outwardly of their previously occupied positions.
 2. A method in accordance with claim 1 in which said vehicle includes a crane having a boom, said method comprising the further step of: initially lifting and threading said old and new rails initially by said boom through said vehicle.
 3. An apparatus for continuously replacing an old pair of rails with a new pair of continuous ribbon rails on a tie bed, said apparatus comprising a vehicle having a frame, rubber tires attached to and supporting said frame for rolling along said bed, said frame and said wheel having a predetermined span greater than the width between said old rails to allow said vehicle to roll along said tie bed at locations outwardly of said old rail locations, means on the front end of said vehicle for raising and supporting the old rails from the bed for traveling through said vehicle, means at the front end of said vehicle for raising and supporting said new rails simultaneously with the raising of said new rails, means on said vehicle for spreading apart said new rails to the gauge of said old rails as said vehicle rolls along said bed and said new rails travel through said vehicle, and means for shifting said old rails laterally and for lowering the same to said tie bed at locations adjacent said new rails.
 4. An apparatus in accordance with claim 3 in which said means for raising said new rails includes a boom extending forwardly from the front end of said vehicle and in which said means for raising and supporting said old rails comprises a pair of support arms inclined downwardly in the direction of travel at the front end of said vehicle, rod means extending transversely between said downwardly inclined arms, and roller means on said rod means for rolling beneath said old rails.
 5. An apparatus in accordance with claim 4 in which said means for raising and supporting said new rails comprises rail supporting tongs having a pair of lugs adapted to be spread apart, and rollers carried by said lugs to engage underneath the heads of the rails.
 6. An apparatus in accordance with claim 5 in which said means for lifting said new rails further comprises a suspending device extending between said boom and said tongs, said vehicle further comprising the pair of rearward tongs for supporting and guiding the new rails.
 7. An apparatus in accordance with claim 4 in which said means for raising and supporting said old rails holds the same above the raised new rails, and is higher on said frame than said means for raising and supporting said new rails.
 8. An apparatus in accordance with claim 3 in which said means on said vehicle for raising and supporting said old rails further comprises supporting rollers positioned adjacent the rearward end of said vehicle for supporting each of the old rails passing through said vehicle.
 9. An apparatus in accordance with claim 3 in which said means for shifting said old rails laterally comprises a trailer connected to said rubber-tired vehicle and pulled thereby.
 10. An apparatus in accordance with claim 9 in which said means to shift said old rails laterally comprises roller means on said trailer for spreading said old rails to guide them and lay said old rails down outwardly of said position previously occupied by said old rails. 